The Lion and the Serpent

The sea breeze was sharp, carrying the scent of salt and blood. The last embers of battle had long since died out, but the taste of war still lingered in the air. Shiganshina had become the heart of Eldia's resurgence, and at its center stood Historia.

She sat in the royal chamber, illuminated by the golden light of an oil lamp. Her hands rested on the wooden table, fingers interlocked as she stared at the map before her. The faint flicker of firelight played across her face, casting shifting shadows over her determined expression.

I leaned against the doorway, watching her in silence for a moment before stepping inside. "You look like someone carrying the weight of a kingdom on their shoulders."

She exhaled softly, a small smile gracing her lips. "Because I am."

I walked closer, pulling out a chair across from her and sitting down. "Then let me carry it with you."

She met my gaze, searching, measuring. Historia was no fool—she knew the game we were playing. But that didn't mean she wasn't drawn into it, little by little.

[System Notification: Historia Reiss's Affection +15.]

She glanced back at the map, running a delicate finger over the outline of the Walls. "Zeke is still alive. That means the other nations will eventually learn of the power he carries."

I nodded. "Which is why he's no longer a variable."

Her brow furrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

I smirked. "Zeke is now a crippled serpent. His power is sealed, his plans shattered. We'll use him, not as a weapon, but as bait. The world will watch, waiting for him to strike, not realizing the real danger isn't him anymore."

She hesitated before nodding slowly. "And what happens when they do realize?"

I reached across the table, gently taking her hand in mine. She stiffened but didn't pull away. "By then, it won't matter. Because Eldia will no longer be prey. We will be the lions."

[System Notification: Historia Reiss's Affection +25.]

The Shackled Beast

Deep beneath the city, Zeke sat against the cold stone wall of his cell, his golden eyes dimmed with contemplation. The Titan-disabling shackles still clung to his wrists, a constant reminder of his new reality.

Levi stood outside the bars, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Not so confident now, are you, monkey?"

Zeke exhaled, rubbing his wrists. "You act like I've lost everything."

I stepped forward, hands in my pockets. "Because you have."

His gaze flickered to me, wary, calculating. "And yet, you haven't killed me."

I crouched, resting my forearms on my knees. "Because you're still useful. The world still fears you, Zeke. As long as they believe you hold the key to the Founding Titan, they won't act rashly."

He frowned. "You're using me as a decoy."

I smirked. "Exactly."

Zeke chuckled, shaking his head. "And what do I get in return?"

I stood, my shadow stretching over him. "Your life."

He fell silent.

Levi scoffed. "Tch. I'd say that's more than you deserve."

The Phantom Army

Marley's remnants had scattered, but they weren't defeated. Along the coast, the survivors regrouped, licking their wounds, searching for a way to retaliate.

But I wouldn't give them the chance.

Standing atop the Walls, I watched the horizon where the sea met the sky. Eren stood beside me, silent, brooding.

He finally spoke. "Is this really necessary?"

I turned to him, my expression unreadable. "You tell me. If Marley had the chance, do you think they'd show mercy?"

His jaw clenched. He knew the answer.

Mikasa and Armin stood nearby, watching the conversation unfold. Armin stepped forward. "There has to be another way. If we strike first, we'll be proving them right—that we're devils."

I sighed, placing a hand on Armin's shoulder. "Armin, you're a genius, but this isn't a game of morality. This is survival. If you give your enemy time to recover, they'll return stronger. And next time, they won't hesitate."

Eren exhaled, eyes darkening. "Then we finish this."

I smiled.

[System Notification: Eren Yeager's Hesitation -15.]

[System Notification: Eren Yeager's Resolve +20.]

To the Last Man

The attack came at dawn.

Marley's remnants, scattered and desperate, had fortified a coastal fortress. They thought they had time. They were wrong.

As our forces advanced, I moved like a ghost through the battlefield, my long knife gleaming under the rising sun. Soldiers fell before they even saw me, my blade slicing through flesh with brutal efficiency.

Eren tore through their defenses in his Titan form, his rage fueling every step. Mikasa was a whirlwind of steel, cutting down enemies with terrifying precision. Levi, as always, was an untouchable force of nature.

And then there was me, weaving between the chaos, orchestrating their demise like a silent conductor.

By midday, it was over.

Marley's last stronghold had fallen.

As I stood among the corpses, I looked up at the burning ruins of their fortress. The flames reflected in my eyes as the system chimed in my mind.

[System Notification: Mission Complete – Destroy Marley's Remnants.]

[EXP Gained: 25,000]

[System Coins Gained: 15,000]

[New Title Unlocked: The Ghost of War]

I let out a slow breath, wiping the blood from my blade.

Historia would be pleased.

Eldia was no longer the hunted.

Now, we were the hunters.